JoJonium Vol. 2
Bruford (ブラフォード, Burafōdo) is a minor antagonist featured in the first part of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, Phantom Blood.
Along with Tarkus, Bruford was formerly a powerful knight from 16th Century Great Britain and a loyal retainer of Mary Stuart. Dying in disgrace, Bruford was resurrected as a zombie by Dio Brando and is summoned against Jonathan Joestar. He wields a knightly sword named Luck.
Bruford is a male zombie having the appearance of a man of athletic stature and long, unkempt, dark hair, who has a scar on the bridge of his nose. He wears a metal armor consisting of a chest-plate with a collar-like ornate plate which ends on a decorated metal disk, shoulder pads and ankles pads with a pair of sandals, and a diadem decorated with several jewels.
Alive, Bruford was an honorable knight of Mary Stuart. His feelings toward her surpassed even that of love. When Elizabeth I betrayed Mary Stuart, Bruford stood by her side, fighting off all of Elizabeth's forces. Upon learning of her capture, he was easily willing to die for her. However, when the executioner showed him Mary Stuart's head, even though he accepted execution to save his liege, he goes into a blind rage and begins resenting humanity.
As a zombie, his hatred carried over, easily serving Dio in his quest for destruction. However, along with his hatred, his pride as a knight also carried over, deciding to fight Jonathan one on one.
After being defeated by Jonathan, the Ripple sent to him "frees his soul", allowing him to feel human again. He loses his hatred towards the world and is thankful for his chance to meet the honorable Jonathan.
As a knight, Bruford is supposedly a good fighter. It is stated that against the armies that fought against Mary Stuart, only Bruford and Tarkus could win. Already, Bruford had athletic abilities beyond ordinary humans. An expert swimmer, Bruford was capable of swimming a 5 km lake wearing armor with 30 kg of weight. He also managed to complete the 77 Rings challenge.
As a Zombie, his strength is multiplied and he can be seen scraping out a Zombie's nose with just his finger or swimming as fast as the Ripple can spread in water, allowing him to escape an attack with minimal damage.
Luck (
Danse Macabre Hair (
Born in the 16th century, Bruford was a member of the Tudor Dynasty and a retainer of Mary Stuart. After losing his relatives in previous wars, young Bruford was brought up as Mary Stuart's knight and trained his body for that sole purpose. At the same time, Bruford became attached to Mary whose charm made him feel at peace. Alongside his fellow retainer Tarkus, Bruford passed the Challenge of the 77 Rings in 1563, being the only two out of five in history to succeed it.[3]
Eventually, when Mary was imprisoned by her political rival Queen Elizabeth, Bruford and Tarkus fought the queen's army until she offered Mary's release in return for their surrender. But on the day they are to executed as enemies of the crown, Bruford and Tarkus learned from their executioner that Mary was already killed before they gave into the queen's demands. Bruford died expressing his undying hatred for Elizabeth and her family, rumors saying that his hair entangled the executioner's feet and killed him moments before being beheaded. The story of Bruford and Tarkus was passed down and became known to some, two such people being Jonathan Joestar and Dio Brando.
After taking residence in Windknight's Lot following his transition into a vampire, expressing a bit of sentimentality toward them, Dio resurrected Bruford and Tarkus as his zombie enforcers to deal with Jonathan, Will Anthonio Zeppeli, and Robert E. O. Speedwagon. Bruford's hair sucks Jonathan's blood, preventing him from conducting the Ripple through his affected arm but Jonathan simply uses his other fist to burn the hair with a flaming Ripple. When a Zombie interferes, Bruford kills him and asks Dio if he could be the one to take care of Jonathan, which Dio accepts. Bruford thus attacks, leaping while hiding his hands to trick Jonathan, instead drawing and wielding his sword "Luck" with his hair instead. To avoid the swing, Jonathan must duck and jump underwater, followed by Bruford. Surprisingly, Jonathan swims downward to find air bubbles beneath the rocks, enabling him to draw breath and indirectly hit Bruford with a Ripple Overdrive. However, Bruford rapidly swims to the surface to avoid the brunt of the attack.
Happy to face such an opponent, Bruford deploys his hair and ties up Jonathan, smashing him against a tree. Bruford draws his sword and attacks but Jonathan kicks the sword, conducting the Ripple into the Zombie's arm. Then, Jonathan violently pummels Bruford with the Sunlight Yellow Overdrive.
Once Jonathan made a direct hit on him after literally disarming him, Bruford regained his former humanity from the Ripple slowly destroying his body. Accepting his defeat with grace, noting he lost his hatred, Bruford only expressed only content to be reunited with Mary in the afterlife. After learning of Jonathan's name, Bruford gives the youth his sword, which he renamed Luck and Pluck, before he completely turned to ash. His armor and remains were kicked aside by a wrathful Tarkus as Jonathan was utterly conflicted over being forced to kill such a noble warrior regardless of being warped by Dio's evil.
In the other boss chapter, the player faces Bruford on land. During the match, Bruford will use punches and kicks as his normal attacks and uses his hair holding a sword as his special move. This is the first battle that allows Jonathan to use his Sunlight Yellow Overdrive as his special Ripple move.
Bruford appears as a playable character in one chapter of EXTRA BATTLE, particularly his "on land" version.
Bruford appears as one of the several characters who possess a Medal Striker. His FINISH move animation shows his hair holding the sword Luck and attacking the defeated medal striker character.
Despite not appearing in the game, Bruford's name is said during Jonathan's special move using the Luck & Pluck sword. As he says "Bruford's sword, LUCK & PLUCK!!!" when using it. His name is also written in a loading screen describing the Luck & Pluck sword attack.
Bruford appears in Diamond Records as a playable character in both the Action Battle and Tactical Battle game modes. He has one 'Courage' type 5 star statue.
Bruford's moveset in both game modes is comprised of various attacks inspired by the anime using his sword, hair, and speed abilities. As a zombie, Bruford constantly regenerates health, but has a weakness to attacks from ripple users. Playing as him will force any outdoor stages to take place at night.
JoJonium Vol. 2
Bruford and Tarkus in the past
Jonathan against Bruford and Tarkus
Bruford alongside Tarkus in the ending credits
Resurrected with Tarkus in the Phantom Blood PS2 game
5-star statue, Diamond Records
Bruford about to attack Jonathan Joestar (Part 3 OVA)
Bruford in the 2004 Movie Pilot
Bruford vs Jonathan in the 2004 2004 Movie Pilot
Concept art for the Phantom Blood Movie
Bruford's heads/body perspective from the Phantom Blood Movie
Chara Heroes; Part 1 Vol.1
Bruford figurine from the Super Figure Revolution series
Super Figure Revolution (Neo)
Super Figure Revolution (Bronze)
<languages/>
Leadership | |
---|---|
Zombies and Other Undead | |
Stand Users | |
Egypt 9 Glory God Users | |
Agents of Pucci | |
Non-Canon Agents |
Supernatural Beings | |
---|---|
Vampires | |
Zombies and other Undead | |
Pillar Men | |
Ghosts | |
Rock Organisms (Rock Humans) | |
Miscellaneous |
Phantom Blood Characters | |
---|---|
Main Characters | |
Minor Characters | |
Groups |